German schools commence operations amidst summer's scorching temperatures
In Germany, the 2025/26 academic year has started for some states, while others are still enjoying their summer holidays. The heatwave, predicted by the German Weather Service (DWD), is adding to the summer vibes, with temperatures reaching up to 35 degrees Celsius.
The states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia resumed school today, marking the beginning of the new academic year. Students in Lower Saxony and Bremen will join their peers on Thursday, August 14. North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg, Berlin, Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will resume on various dates in August, with North Rhine-Westphalia set to return on August 27 and Hamburg on September 4. Berlin and Brandenburg will start on August 8, followed by Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on the same day. Baden-Württemberg will start on September 15, and Bavaria, which is known for taking its holidays last, will commence on September 16.
The holiday period can be taken between June 20 and September 15. However, the debate over holiday periods is heating up, with Bavaria reluctant to change its tradition. The Bavarian Minister-President, Markus Söder, stated that Bavaria's holiday rhythm is deeply ingrained in the culture of Bavarians. Other federal states, such as Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, which returned to school on August 18, are considering joining Bavaria in going on holiday last from 2030.
Meanwhile, those without school-age children can enjoy cheaper prices and less crowded beaches and tourist attractions from mid-September onwards. The entire country will have a day off on October 3 for German Unity Day.
The autumn school holidays in Hesse, Saxony, and Thuringia begin on October 6. The summer holidays in Germany last for approximately three months. The Saarland will return on Friday, August 15, followed by Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate on August 18.
As the country prepares for the new academic year, the DWD forecasts a heatwave starting next week. Wednesday and Thursday could see highs of up to 38 degrees, according to the DWD's Sunday forecast. The heat front is expected to start spreading towards the center of the country today, with temperatures expected to reach up to 35 degrees Celsius by mid-week.
For comprehensive and precise official start dates by German state for the 2025/26 school year, typically state education ministry websites or official German education calendars provide these details. However, the search results did not yield that specific data for all states. For those seeking more information, it is recommended to visit the respective state education ministry websites or official German education calendars.
[1] Link to the general European school vacation calendar covering Germany for the 2025-2026 period. [5] Link to DoDEA schools in Germany, which serve U.S. military families, noting a return to in-person instruction on February 22, 2025. This pertains to a different school system.
- To have a better understanding of the diverse school start dates across Germany for the 2025/26 academic year, more information can be found on the respective state education ministry websites or official German education calendars.
- As the country embraces the long summer holidays, the German Weather Service predicts a heatwave escalating towards the center of the country, with temperatures soaring up to 38 degrees Celsius by next week.
